Here's a breakdown of what IDL does:
* Defines Data Types: IDL specifies the data types used in communication between components (e.g., integers, strings, structures).
* Defines Interfaces: It defines the functions and operations that a component exposes for other components to use.
* Specifies Communication Protocols: IDL can indicate the communication protocol (e.g., CORBA, DCOM) used for interaction.
Key uses of IDL:
* Distributed Computing: IDL facilitates the communication between components running on different machines or even different operating systems.
* Object-Oriented Programming: IDL allows for the definition of interfaces for objects, enabling components to interact with each other regardless of their implementation.
* System Interoperability: IDL promotes interoperability by defining common communication rules for diverse software systems.
Examples of IDLs:
* CORBA IDL (Common Object Request Broker Architecture): A widely used IDL for distributed object systems.
* MIDL (Microsoft Interface Definition Language): Used for defining interfaces in COM (Component Object Model) technology.
* Interface Definition Language (IDL) for Web Services: Used to describe web services and their operations.
In summary, IDL acts as a blueprint for communication between software components. It establishes a common language, ensuring that different components can interact smoothly, regardless of their underlying implementation details.